Virginia Lawyers Weekly

February 2013 Virginia Bar Exam Results

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: May 14, 2013
Tags: Bar Exam, Bar passers

Editor’s note: Below are the names of the successful candidates who sat for the February 2013 Virginia bar examination. Of the 564 applicants who took the exam, 324 passed, for a pass rate of 57 percent. Congratulations! A Jefferson Hodges Adams, Raleigh, N.C.; Marlena Francisca Anderson, Springfield; Courtney Lynn Armstrong, Martinsville B Seokchan Baek, Fairfax; [...]

Continuance Denial Upheld in Custody Case 

By Deborah Elkins
Published: April 17, 2013
Tags: Domestic Relations, Per Curiam Opinion, Virginia Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals says a trial court did not err in declining to grant father a continuance of a custody and visitation hearing in response to father’s presentation that morning of a letter from new counsel requesting a hearing, and the lower court decision is affirmed. The trial court provided detailed reasons for denying [...]

Report criticizes Va. judges on child abuse cases

By The Associated Press
Published: December 14, 2012
Tags: General Assembly, Judge Isaac St. C. Freeman, Judge Junius P. Fulton III, Judge William R. O'Brien, Judicial Selection

Only a small percentage of suspected crimes against children are prosecuted in Virginia, and very few of those cases result in meaningful prison sentences, a child advocacy group says in a new report. The National Association to PROTECT Children sent the report this week to members of two legislative committees that will meet Friday to interview [...]

ERISA ‘Wrongful Discharge’ Claim Too Late 

By Deborah Elkins
Published: September 10, 2012
Tags: Employment, Judge Henry E. Hudson, U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A Richmond U.S. District Court dismisses plaintiff’s claim that employer violated ERISA by discharging her for the improper purpose of preventing her accrual of pension service credits while she was out on disability, but says her claims for wrongful denial of pension benefits and breach of fiduciary duty may go forward. Employer says the claim [...]

No First Amendment Claim for Guard Grievances 

By Deborah Elkins
Published: July 11, 2012
Tags: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Civil Rights, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III

Two Virginia correctional officers cannot sue for alleged unlawful firing for exercise of their First Amendment free-speech rights; the 4th Circuit says complaints about an employee’s own duties pursued through an internal grievance procedure do not relate to a matter of public concern. Plaintiffs, former employees at the Rustburg Correctional Unit #9, are James Brooks [...]

Supreme Court of Virginia Law Clerks 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: July 9, 2012

This partial listing of law clerks includes those who have served Supreme Court justices who have been in active service during the 26 years Virginia Lawyers Weekly has been published. CURRENT JUSTICES: Hon. Cynthia D. Kinser, Supreme Court of Virginia, 1997- : Elizabeth Ann Heaney 1997-1998 Shawn Hines 1998-1999 Lucas Hobbs 1999-2000 Thomas W. Baker [...]

The VLW 2012 Survey of ADR Providers 

Help drive business to your ADR group by participating in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Survey. On August 27, Virginia Lawyers Weekly will feature the results of our Survey of ADR Providers. This reference will appear in a special section of Virginia Lawyers Weekly and be available year-round on our website. To have your ADR firm [...]

‘Influential Women’ nominations sought

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: January 17, 2012
Tags: Influential Women of Virginia

Virginia Lawyers Weekly will host the fourth annual “Influential Women of Virginia” program this May. We are now accepting nominations for the Class of 2012. The Influential Women awards honor high-achieving women across the commonwealth. They recognize the outstanding efforts of women in all fields, including law, business, health care, education, government and the arts. [...]

Doan v. Lowe’s Home Centers Inc. 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Personal Injury Court: Fairfax County Circuit Court Attorney: Douglas B. Wessel, Reston Summary: A “friendly bear hug” by an employee at a Fairfax County Lowe’s resulted in a customer’s spinal cord injury. The employee, who is 6’2 and weighs more than 300 pounds, rushed up behind a regular customer to greet him [...]

Jafer v. DiMattina MD 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Medical Malpractice Court: Arlington County Circuit Court Attorneys: Malcolm P. McConnell III and Jason W. Konvicka, Richmond Summary: A 30-year-old woman suffered a stroke after undergoing in vitro fertilization therapy. She alleged that the defendant physician was negligent because he ignored warning signs of a complication called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and continued [...]